Adjustable cloth guide



Feb. 2, 1943;. a. M. JONES ETAL 2,309,647

ADJUSTABLE CLOTH GUIDE Filed Feb'. 6,1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 2, 1943.B. M, JONES ETAL ADJUSTABLE CLOTH GUIDE Filed Feb. 6, 1942 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 2, 1943. I JONES ETAL 2,309,647

ADJUSTABLE CLOTH GUIDE Filed Fel a. 6', 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet s fiderztmr22 am 721-757;. Car/HSzreeter Patented Feb. 2, 1943 ADJUSTABLE CLOTHGUIDE Bliss M. Jones and Carl H.

assignors to Rodney H Streeter, Orange, Mass., unt Machine Company,

Orange, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 6,1942, Serial No. 429,772

20 Claims.

This invention relates to adjustable cloth guides for textile machineryand in particular to those applied to fulling mills.

Objects of the invention include the provision of a continuous closedcloth guide in the form of a ring or the like, this guide beingadjustable generally radially throughout its circumference s that'theeffect is to produce a pot-eye which is adjustable in size; theprovision of a cloth guide having a warped surface which, when turned,will present increasing or decreasing degrees of curved or inclinedareas whereby the surface included in the Warp will provide a guidingmeans which presents an increasing or decreasing guiding section; theprovision of a pair of rollers which are provided with generally similarbut reversed concave warped surfaces cooperatively presenting anaperture or guiding throat between the rollers, which is adjustable indiameter when the rolls are correspondingly rotated; the provision of acloth guiding throat for machines of the class described wherein thethroat is continuous in outline in the general form of a ring, therebeing means effective to adjust the size of the ring for the purpose ofapplying pressure from all sides to various thicknesses and materials ofstrings of cloth passing through the guide, said guide being adjustablein a generally radial direction so as to vary the size of the throat inall directions normal to the line of passage of the cloth string.

Further objects of the invention include the provision of a throat guidefor a fulling mill which comprises two rolls each having correspondingbut reversed concave warped surfaces which cooperate to provide acontractible or enlargeable continuous guide, in combination with throatplates which are mounted on the rolls and which approach each other tonarrow the pathway therebetween as the continuous throat guide iscontracted and which diverge when the throat is enlarged, in proportionto the decrease or increase in the size of the opening which forms thethroat; the provision of an adjustable throat guide for a fulling millcomprising a pair of rolls which are mountable in any desired orconvenientlocation in a fulling mill, but preferably immediately inadvance of the fulling rolls, the rolls being provided with peripheralconcave warped or curved surfaces of Varying degree, so that when therollers are rotated together they will present a throat therebetweenwhich is adjustable in size depending on said rotation, there being apair of camgrooves in each roller, said grooves being preferably but notnecessarily spiral in form and conforming to the size of the grooves, athroat plate mounted in a pair of corresponding cam grooves, said throatplates extending between the rolls and beyond the surfacesthereof, to beadjusted to and from each other by means of the cam grooves as therollers are rotated to enlarge or decrease the throat openingtherebetween.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 isa view in side elevation of the parts 1 of a fulling mill to which thisinvention pertains, and illustrates one embodiment of the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts of Fig. 1 and shows the top roller inposition to provide a large throat opening;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear view of the rollers showing an enlargedthroat opening;

, Fig. 4 is across section on line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the rollers corresponding to Fig. 3, butshowing the rollers from the front;

Fig. 6is a cross section on line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view from the rear of the rollers and showing them in aposition to present a small throat guide opening;

Fig. 8 is a cross section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing the rollers as they lookfrom the front;

. Fig. 10 is a cross section on line I 0-H! of Fig. 9;:

Fig. 11 is'a top plan view of the top roller as it appears in Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a throat plate; and a Fig. 13 is a crosssection on line l3-l3 of Fig. 12.

In the drawings numeral 10 indicates the outside housing of a fullingmill or other machine using the present invention. Fulling or otherrolls I2 are mounted in the housing in any convenient or desired manner,and a packing box l4 may be arranged as usual at the rear side of thefulling rolls. A front guide roll I 6 may be used to direct a clothstring l8 to the fulling rolls and between a pair of throat plates 20.

A pair of rollers 22 are mounted one above the other vertically, at thefront or incoming side of the fulling rolls, rollers 22 being of asubstantially smaller diameter than that of the fulling rolls, and theserollers may be mounted in any desired or convenient manner in thehousing ID or if convenient on extensions I3 of packing box M. Eachroller is provided with a pair of similar but reverse cam grooves 24 and25, these grooves starting at a point adjacent the ends of the rollersand extending inwardly spirally and around and stopping at spaced pointsmore adjacent the center of the rollers axially thereof. The grooves inone roller are complementary to the grooves in the other roller so thatat the points on the peripheries of the rollers most closely adjacent toeach other, the grooves always correspond as seen in Figs. 3, 5, 7, and9. Means such as the crank and gear in Fig. 2 may be provided to rotatethe rollers in opposite directions so that their adjacent peripheriesmove in the same direction.

Vertical throat plates 29 are constructed to have portions thereofentering corresponding grooves so that the plates are located betweenthe rollers. Throat plates 29 are constructed with a forward or outerguiding portion 28 or an inward or rear pointed portion 28, the latterconforming to and extending between the peripheries of the fulling rollsl2. Between portions 26 and 28, the throat plates are provided. withoppositely extending circular concave guidin curves as at 30 and thesecurves are undercut or rabbeted to form curved guide flanges 32 on thethroat plates fitting into the cam grooves 24 and of the rolls. Theeffect of this construction is that when the rollers are turned withadjacent side moving in the same direction, that is with the rollershafts 34 turning in opposite directions, throat plates 20 will travellaterally of themselves to and from widely separated positions as shownin Figs. 4 and 6 to more closely adjacent positions as shown in Figs. 8and 10. By this means the throat plates will be seen to be adjustable toand from each other soas to provide closer or more widely spaced throatguiding plates for the cloth string l8. It is to be noted that rollers22 are geared together so that they will always move correspondinglyunder influence of the hand. crank or other means for rotating them.

Rollers 22 are provided with concave or warped hollowed out irregularsurface areas which extend from the periphery of the rollers as forinstance at 36 where they are narrowest, as will be seen in Figs. 3 and4, and this hollowed out concave surface gradually deepens and widens asit proceeds around the periphery of the rollers until it reaches thedeepest point towards the centers of the rollers at approximately thepoint. 38, which is visible in both Figs. 3 and 5, this point lying in aline which forms the deepest concavity in the concave area. From point38 the hollowed out concave surface continues to widen as seen in Fig. 6but again begins to approach the periphery of the rollers as at 40 aswill be seen from Figs. 5 and 7.

The surfaces just above described may be referred to as concave warpedsurfaces which form irregular grooves in the peripheries of the rollers.It will be seen that the embodiment of the invention here illustrateddoes not carry the warped groove entirely about the periphery of therollers, but it is within the limits of this invention to vary thewarped surface of the groove sufficiently to bring the two ends of thegroove together, or to form the rollers with an even wider rollersurface at 42. The essential form of the groove resides merely in theprovision of a concave surface which starts adjacent the periphery,deepens and widens to a certain point and then, while still becomingwider it becomes portions 26 of less deep to again approach theperiphery of the roller.

It will be seen from the drawings that the widest portion of the concavegrooves correspond to the most widely separated ends of grooves 24 and25, and that the edges 44 of the grooves extend in substantialconformance to grooves. 24 and 25 as the latter. run inwardly from theends of the rollers and around the same. Fig. 3 illustrates theappearance of the rollers as seen from the fulling roll aspect, insubstantially one extreme condition of the rollers wherein the guidethroat or opening formed by the hollowed out grooves presents thelargest possible aperture between the rollers, and it will be seen thatthroat plates 20 are here widely separated to conform to the largestguide opening between the rollers. As the rollers are correspondinglyrotated to constrict the guide opening between them, the throat platesare gradually moved by the cam grooves towards each other so that thethroat plates 20 will be seento always conform in spacing to the size ofthe guide opening no matter what size it is. Also the concave warpedgrooves in the rollers are so arranged that a smooth surfaced clothguiding area is always presented to the incoming string of cloth; thatis, as viewed in Fig. 5 the cloth will find a. comparatively wide apronor funnel-like guideway 46;.and as the rollers areturned to present asmall aperture as in Fig. 9, a similar guide 48- is. presented, althoughin this case it is not quite so extensive as it does not guide as largea string as in the case of Fig. 5. In all cases the inside faces: of

the guide plates generally conform to and provide extensions of thecurved guiding surfaces leading into the guiding throat formed by thegrooves in the rolls as shown in Fig. 2. Also it will be seen that theinside faces of the throat plates are smooth and continuous and presentno angles or corners for the cloth to catch on as it passes between therollers.

By having rollers 22 somewhat separated and the central narrow portion30 of throat plates 20 between them, a vertical oval shape is provided'for the throat guide opening'formed; by the roller grooves. This'shapeis advantageous as it. tends to dispose the cloth string in a generallyvertical plane as it approaches the horizontal nip of the fulling rolls12, thus increasing the-fulling action provided by the combined throatplate and roller guideway. Since throat plates 20 must necessarily beangularlypositioned with respect to rolls 22, the rearwardly pointedends 28 thereof are located at an angle to the main body of the plates.so as to form. a more or: less parallel-sided vertical. guideway betweenrollers 22 and. the fulling rolls. l2.

Fig. '7 illustrates the. fulling roll aspect of rollers 22 in theirsmallest guiding opening? condition, there being no funnel-like guide inthis case, but. as the cloth passes directly into. the fulling. rollsl2, no guide except the lateral. guide members 28 is necessary.

The objects of the invention. will. be seen to have been accomplished bythe above described construction, wherein any usual thickness of cloth.string will be taken care of for fulling. merely by turning a crank. orsimilar mechanism to turn the rollers 22 thus eifectively radially.adjusting the throat guide, or guide opening. formed by the irregularwarped guide surfaces in the rollers, and simultaneously the throatplates 20 are; correspondingly adjusted. to. conform. to the size of theopening. The surfaces of the grooves in rollers 22 may be of other formsthan here illustrated, as forinstance, a cloverleaf shaped opening couldbe presented by appropriately shaping the grooves, orsquare,.rectangular, or oval throat openings could be produced byobvious changes in the hollowed out warped surfaces.

Having thus described our invention and the advantages thereof, we donot wish to be limited to the detailsherein disclosed, otherwise than asset forth in the claims, but what we claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a movableelement, means on said element forming a guideway adjustable in width;with a pair of spaced guiding members in extension of said guideway, andmeans associated with said movable element and effective to travel atleast one of said guiding members relative to the other as said movableelement is moved in a direction to vary the degree of spacing of saidguiding membersin accordance with the adjustment in width of theguideway.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a movableelement and means on said element forming a guideway adjustable in size,said guideway being adjusted in accordance with movement of said movableelement; with a pair of spaced guiding members located in extension ofsaid guideway-forming means, and means actuated by the movement of saidmovable element to travel said guiding members relatively to and fromeach other to adjust the spacing therebetween in accordance with theadjustment of the guideway.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a movableelement, means forming a guideway associated with said element, saidguideway being selectively enlarged or decreased in size depending onmovement of said element; with a pair of guiding members located inextension of said guideway, and means associated with said element tocause at least one of said guiding members to relatively approach theother member as said element is moved to decrease the size of saidguideway and selectively to relatively move away from the other memberas said element is moved to increase the size of said guideway.

4. In a: device of the class described, the combination of a movableelement, means associated with said element forming a guideway, saidguideway being adjustable in size in accordance with the movement ofsaid element depending on the direction of said movement, and means tomove said element selectively in at least two directions; with a pair ofguiding members mounted to move relatively corresponding to theadjustment of said guideway, and means associated with said movableelement to cause relative approach of said guiding members as theguideway is lessened in size and to relatively move them away from eachother as the guideway is enlarged.

5. In a device of the class described, a movable element, a Warpedsurface on said element forming a guideway, said surface being irregularin width in the line of movement of said element to present aselectively decreased or increased guideway, relative to a fixed point,as said element is moved in directions corresponding to said line.

6. A device as recited in the preceding claim wherein said surface isalso irregular in depth 7 In a device of the class described, a movableelement, a hollowed surface on said element, said surface beingirregularin depth along the line of movement of said element, saidsurface forming a guideway of varying size, relative to a fixed point,as said element is moved in directions corresponding to said line.,

8. .A device as recited in the preceding claim wherein said surface isalso irregular in width.

. 9. A device of the class described comprising a rotatable element, ahallowed groove in the periphery of said element, said groovebeingirregular in size and forming a guideway adjustable in size, relative toa fixed point, as said ele ment is rotated.

10. An adjustable guide comprising a pair of movable elements, means tomove said elements correspondingly, warped surfaces on said elementscooperating to form a guideway, said surfaces being substantiallycorrespondingly varying in size to adjust the size of the guideway assaid elements are moved.

11. An adjustable guide comprising two elements having surfaces thereofrelatively movable, at least parts of said surfaces being substantiallyconcave to form a guide therebetween, the concave portions of at leastone of said surfaces being irregular in size in a directioncorresponding to the direction of movement of said one surface topresent a guideway adjustable in size as said elements are moved.

12. An adjustable guide as recited in the preceding claim wherein saidsurfaces are irregular in width.

13. An adjustable guide as recited in the preceding claim wherein saidsurfaces are irregular in depth.

14. In a device of the class described, a rotatable element, cam groovesin the periphery of said element, said grooves gradually proceedingaxially spirally of said element oppositely, and guide plates eachhaving a portion located in a groove, whereby said plates are adjustableto and from each other depending on the direction of rotation of saidelement.

15. In a cloth guide, a pair of rollers arranged generally parallel toeach other, a groove in each roller, said grooves cooperating to form aguideway between the rollers, and said grooves varying in sizecorrespondingly so as to provide for adjusting the size of the guidewayupon rotation of the rollers.

16. A cloth guide as recited in claim 15 wherein said grooves intersectthe peripheries of their respective rollers, gradually widen and deepenaround the rollers, and then while continuing to Widen become shallowerand approach the roller peripheries.

17. In a cloth guide, a pair of rollers mounted to be rotated together,a peripheral groove in each roller, said grooves cooperating to form anopening between the rollers, each groove having two ends, one end beingrelatively wide and one relatively narrow and both ends approaching theroller periphery so that they are shallow, the intermediate portions ofthe grooves gradually deepening from each end to points approaching theaxes of the rollers.

18. A cloth guide comprising a pair of parallel rollers, means to rotatesaid rollers, a groove in each roller, said grooves having edgesdiverging from one end to the other of each groove, said edges beingsubstantially aligned throughout the rotation of the rollers, whereby atunnel-like opening between the rollers is formed, said opening beingcapable of being widened or narrowed upon rotation of the rollers, saidgrooves graduall'y deepening in the direction of; divergence of thegroove edgestatrleast part way therealong, the central axis of the:opening being'located: at. right angles to the axes of. the rollers.

19. In a cloth guide, a pair of rollers mounted for correspondingrotation on parallel; axes, means to rotate said rollers in oppositedirections of rotation, a groove each. roller, said. grooves extendingabout the peripheries of said rollers.

in a general plane at right angles to the axes of the rollers, saidgroovesbeing located to, form;

means efiective. to relatively adjust said throat platestocorrespond to.the size of the opening.

20; In a. cloth guide, a pairof parallel rollers arranged to rotatetogether, a circumferential groove in each roller, said groovescorresponding to form an opening.- between the rollers, each groovehaving one end narrower than the other and diverging edges leading fromthe narrower to the wider end, portions of said, grooves graduallydeepening away from the narrower ends to render said opening adjustable,cam grooves arranged in the peripheries of the rollers and extendingalong said edges, said cam grooves receiving throat plates adjustablethereby in V conformity with. the. adjustment of the opening as therollers are rotated.

BLISS M. JONES. CARL H. STREETER.

